Rivet removing device



Ot- 15,' 1946- H. D. RocHEvlLLE l 2,409,589

RVET REMOVING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29', 194s 75 Y i J J5] 75 o Patented Oct. 15, 1946 nivET nEMoviNc DEVICE Harry D. Rocheville, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, San Diego, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application August 29, 1945, Serial No. 613,378

6 Claims. (Cl. 164-94) The present invention relates to devices for removing rivets.

Heretofore it has been customary to remove a rivet from the plates to which it is applied by placing against the preformed or upset head of the rivet a drill having substantially the same diameter as the shank of the rivet, and then' rotating and exerting pressure on the drill in order to drill through the rivet and sever from the shank of the rivet the head against which the drill is placed. In practice it has been found that this method of removing a rivet is objectionable because in connection with drilling of the rivet it is very diflicult to hold the drill in coaxial relation with the shank, and hence the drill produces in the plates oversized or irregularly shaped holes which precludethe use of a new rivet of the saine size as the removed rivet. The aforementioned method is also'objectionable because it requires considerable time and consequently is costly.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a rivet removing device which is an improvement upon, and eliminates the objections of, previously designed and used devices for the same purpose, operates by Way of percussion or hammering, and is characterized by the fact that it will, when properly used, quickly remove a rivet without enlarging or distorting the rivet receiv- In general the ing holes in the riveted plates. subject device comprises anarbor having'one end thereof adapted for connection to the operating end of a standardor `conventional rivet gun and i its other end provided with a cylindrical `coaxial cutting tool, theouter endof which has an an-"l nular cutting edge which is adapted to be placed in centered relation with the preformed head of the rivet to be removed and operates in response to actuation of the rivet gun to sever the outer portion of the preformed head from the rivet shank and eject the shank from the holes in the riveted plates.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rivet removing device of the aforementioned type in whichtheouter end of the cylindrical cutting? tool on the arbor embodies a pilotpoint which is disposed centrally within the annular cutting edge and is adapted when the device is used to remove a rivet having a so-called dimple in the center of its preformed head to lit within they dimple and thus hold the annular cutting edge in centered relation with the preformed head, or when the device is used to remove a rivet having no dimple in its preformed head to form a dimple in the head and thus maintain the annular cutting edge in proper relation with the head during a rivet removing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rivet removing device of the type and character under consideration which comprises in addition to the arbor, means for automatically retracting the arbor after a rivet removing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rivet removing device of the last mentioned character in which the arbor retracting means is in the form of a springloaded sleeve-like jacket which fits slidably around the tool carrying end ef the arbor and has at its from; 0r outer end a cross wall having a central aperture through which the cutting tool extends slidably. 4

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rivet removing device which effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose, is so designed and constructed that it may be pro.-

duced at a low cost, and embodies simple and novel means for detachably connecting the'arbor to the operating end of the rivet gun` Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present rivet removing device will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by the claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of the present disclosure or specification and'in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

`Figure 1 is aside view of a rivet removing device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the device, illustrating in detail the construction of the cutting tool and showing the design and manner of mounting of the spring loaded sleeve-like jacket that constitutes the means for retracting the arbor after a rivet removing operation;`

Figure is a front view of the device, showing in detail the manner in which the centrally apertured cross wall ,at the outer or frontend of l the jacket serves to support and guide the cutting 3 invention, and, as described in detail hereafter, serves as a medium or instrumentality for removing a rivet 'I from a pair of abutting plates 8. It is adapted for use in connection with, and to be attached to the operating end of. a conventional or standard pneumatic rivet gun (not shown) and as its principal components or parts comprises an arbor 9, a cutting tool'IDy and a sleevelike jacket :I I. As shown in Figure 4, the rivet 'I embodies a cylindrical Shank 'la which extends through a pair of registering holes 8a in thel plates 8 and has at one end thereof a preformed head 'Ib with a dimple lc in the center thereof, and at its other end an upset head 1d. When the rivet is in place the two heads abut, respectively, against the outer faces of the plates 8 and serve, as well understood in the art, to hold the plates in clamped relation.

The arbor 9 of the device is formed of any suitable metal stock of circular cross section and has at one endthereof a reduced shank I2 which is shaped to lit-loosely in the nozzle of the rivet gun and is of suchvlength that when the device isin connected relation` with the gun it-is disyposed in the path of Ythe reciprocating hammer -of the gun and-receives the successive impulses or hammer blows of the hammer. -A helical spring I3 of greater diameter than the shank I2 surrounds, and is arranged in concentric vrelation -with,the shank and-serves detachably-to connect the device to the rivet gun. This spring is adaptedA to intert with, and be screwed onto, the usual external screw thread on the nozzle of the rivet gun. The front end of the springr I3'is tapered and has thexextremity thereof suitably anchored to the innerportionof the shank 42. When it is vdesired to'connect fthe device to the rivet gun theA shank l2 is rst inserted intov the nozzle of the gun. vThereafter the arbor` 9 is rotated in 'order .to bring the spring I3 into sorewfthreaded .engagement with the external` screw thread on the gun nozzle. To remove-the device it is only necessary reverselyto turn or rotate the arbor. The other or ifrontend ofthe arbor isprovided Yin the extremity thereof with a cylindrical socket =I4. -As `shown'inxthe drawing, this socket extends lengthwise of, and is in coaxial relation with,

the arbor.

`The Ycutting tool It) is cylindrical. Itis preferably formed rof hard metal andis substantially the same in diameter as the socket I4. VOne end of the outtingrtool IS fits Withinthe lsocket fI/t and is ;held"in-connected relation withthe frontend of Nthearborf` 9 by way of a set screw :I5 which, as 'shown inFigure 2, extends through atransverse screw threaded hole I5. The latter is formed in the front end ofv the arbor and communicates with the central portion of'the socket: M. `The diameter 'of the cutting Vtool la is slightly less'than the diameter .of lthe rivet holes 8a in the plates 8. The'front end face of the cutting tool is provided with-a circular groove I? which is semicirculariin cross sectionaandserves to form outwards thereofan annular cutting edge 'i8 at the front end of l'the cutting tool. vIn connection with -vusefof the device, -theV cutting edge I8 isplaced against the central-portion of the preformed head '.'Ib ofthe rivet 1 while the arbor 9 is held in coaxial relation with the shank of ythe frivct.

:After properly positioning the cutting edge; the rivetfguniistactuated so. as toeffect hammering ofithe' arbor 9. (During hammering `of the. arbor the cutting edge I8 penetrates throughthe central portion of the preformed head 'Ib of the Yrivetv 'land operates to sever the outer portion of such head from the rivet shank 1a. As soon as the outer portion of the preformed head of the rivet is severed from the shank by the cutting edge I8, additional or further hammering of the 5 arbor results in the front end face of the cutting tool I0 ejecting the shank of the rivet from the rivet holes 8a in the plates 8. The cutting tool is of such length that in connection with hammering of the arbor it willpass completely through the rivet holes 8a as shown by dotted lines in Figure 5. The central portion of the outer end face of the cutting tool, that is, the portion within the circular groove il, is shaped to form a pilot point I9. This point projects beyond or outwards of the cutting edge I8 and is adapted when the device is manipulated into its operative position to fit within the dimple 'lc in the preformed head 'Ib of the rivet and maintain the cutting edge in centered relation with the preformed head. In the event that the device is used to remove a rivet having no dimple, the pilot point i9 serves to form a dimple in the center of the head and thus maintain the cutting edge i8 in centered relation with the head. The sleeve-like jacketv II surrounds, and is in sliding engagement'with, the front end of the arbor 9 and together with a helical compression spring 2i) serves to'retract the arbor from the plates 8 after a rivet removing operation. It is preferably formed of metal and has at the front end thereof an integral cross wall 2l. The latter is adapted in connection with use of the device to iit against the preformed head 7b of the rivet l, and has in the central portion thereof a substantially circular aperture 22'in which the outer end of the cutting tool is slidably mounted. The compression spring surrounds the central portion ofthe arbor 9 and has one end thereof in abutment with the inner or rear end of the sleeve-like jacket l I. The other end of the spring abuts against the ends of a pin 23 which extends through, and is held by a drive rit in, a transverse holeV 24 in the arbor. Prior to penetration of the cutting edge I8 of the cutting tool into the preformed head of the rivet the `spring 2i) is in its extended condition and the cross wall 2l at the front end of the jacket II is disposed directly behind the cuttingedge. In connection withy a rivet removingoperation in `the jacket II, after abutment of the cross Wall 22 againstthe preformed head of the rivet, remains stationary and the arbor and cutting tool move forward relatively tothe jacket. During forwardy movement of the arbor and tool the spring '29 is compressed. When the device after a rivet removing operation is released the spring 28 extends or expands and operates automaticallyito effect retraction of the arbor and cutting tool. The upper portion o-f the cross wall ZI is provided with a V-shaped notch' 25 which leads to, and intersects, the circular aperture 22 and enables the user of the device readily to observe the yiront end of the cutting tool Ii] during application thereof to the central portion of 'the preformed head of the rivet. The front upper portionv 'ofl the sleeve-like jacket II is provided with a coutout 25 and this extends rearwards from the upper portion of the cross wall '2l and permits the user of the device to see through the notch 25. Forward sliding movement of the jacket relatively tothe arbor 9 is limited by way of a stop pin' 2i'. Thisfpin has one end thereof disposed in a socket .28 in the upper frcntpcrtion of the arbor 9 and is adapted '(5 to be engaged by the portionof .the 'sleeve-like jacket I I that defines the rear end of the cutout 2E.

When itis desired to use the device the arbor is manipulated into a position wherein the pilot point I9 is disposed inthe dimple Ic in the center of the preformed head 'Ib of the rivet l. After so manipulating the arbor and while the arbor is maintained at right angles to the plate, the rivet gun to which the device is attached is actuated. As soon as the gun is started the arbor isrhammered forwards with the result that the annular cutting edge i8 penetrates through the preformed head 'Ib and severs the outer portion of the head from the shank of the rivet. Directly upon severance of the outer portion of the' preformed head from the rivet shank, the outer end face of the cutting tool in connection with further forward movement of the arbor ejects the shank 'la of the rivet from the rivet holes 3a in the plates 8. During forward travel or movement of the arbor and cutting tool the sleeve-like jacket I I remains stationary so long as the cross wall 2| thereof is in abutment with the preformed head 'Ib of the rivet. When the device is released after removal of the rivet l the jacket Il and the spring 29 operate to retract the arbor and cutting tool as hereinbefore pointed out. When the device is removed from the plates the severed outer portion of the preformed head of the rivet drops. It

is contemplated that during a rivet removing operation the upset head of the rivet will be surrounded by any suitable backing bar (not shown).

The herein described rivet remo-ving device is highly efficient in operation and operates to remove a rivet in an exceedingly short period of time. When properly used the device will remove a rivet without enlarging or distorting the rivet holes in the riveted plates. Because of this particular feature it is possible after the device has been used to remove a damaged or faulty rivet to apply a similar sized rivet in its stead. Because the device is essentially simple in design it maybe manufactured at a low cost. The subject device is capable of removing all forms or types of rivets including rivets having countersink variety preformed heads.

'Ihe invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

VHaving thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device adapted in conjunction with a rivet gun to remove a head-equipped rivet from a plurality of abutting plates with registering circular holes therethrough for the shank of the rivet, and comprising an elongated arbor having one end thereof shaped to fit within the nozzle of the rivet gun and extend into the path of the gun hammer and provided with means for yieldingly holding it in connected relation with the gun nozzle, and a cylindrical cutting tool of less diameter than the holes in the plates, connected to the other end of the arbor, extending lengthwise of said arbor, having in its outer end face a concentric annular groove defining outwards thereof an annular cutting edge for placement against the central portion of the head of the rivet, and adapted when said cutting edge is placed in centered relation with the head of the rivet and the arbor is subjected to hammer blows by the gun .to sever the outer portion of the rivet head from the rivet shank and eject the shank from the holesin the plate.

2. A device adapted in conjunction with a rivet gun to remove a head-equipped rivet from a plurality of abutting plates with registering holes therethrough for the shank oi the rivet, and comprising an elongated arbor having one end thereof shaped to t within the nozzle of the rivet gun and extend into the path of the gun hammer and provided with means for yieldingly holding it in connected relation with the gun nozzle, and a cutting tool of less width than the holes in the plates, connected to the other end of the arbor, extending lengthwise of said arbor, having on the outer end face thereof a continuous cutting edge for placement against the central portion of the head of the rivet and in addition a centrally disposed pilot point projecting outwards of the cutting edge, and adapted when said cutting edge is placed in centered relation with the head of the rivet and the arbor is subjected to hammer blows by the gun to sever the outer portion of the rivet head from the rivet shank and eject the shank from the holes in the plate.

3. A device adapted in conjunction with a percussion type rivet gun to remove a headequipped rivet from a plurality of abutting plates with registering circular holes. therethrough for the shank of the rivet, and comprising an elongated arbor having one end thereof shaped to iit within the nozzle of the rivet gun and extend into the path of the gun hammer and provided with means for yieldingly holding it in connected relation with the gun nozzle, and a cylindrical cutting tool of less diameter than the holes in the plates, connected to the other end of the arbor, extending lengthwise of said arbor, provided in its outer end face with .a concentric circular groove dening outwards thereof an annular cutting -edge for placement against the central portion of the head of the rivet, having the portion thereof within the groove shaped to form a pilot point extending outwards of the cutting edge, and adapted when said cutting edge is placed in centered relation with the head of the rivet and the arbor is subjected to hammer blows by the gun to sever the outer portion of the rivet head from the rivet shank and eject the shank from the holes in the plate.

4. A device adapted in conjunction with a rivet gun to remove a head-equipped rivet from a plurality of abutting plates with registering circular holes therethrough for the shank of the rivet, and comprising an elongated arbor having one end thereof shaped to fit within the nozzle of the rivet gun and extend intothe path of the gun hammer and provided with means for yieldingly holding it in connected relation with the gun nozzle, a cylindrical cutting tool of less diameter than the holes in the plates, connected to the other end of the arbor, extending lengthwise of said arbor, having in its outer end face a concentric annular groove defining outwards thereof an annular cutting edge for placement against the central portion of the head of the rivet, and adapted when said cutting edge is placed in centered relation with the head of the rivet and the arbor is subjected to hammer blows by the gun to sever the outer portion of the rivet head from the rivet shank and eject the shank from the holes in the plate, and means for retracting the arbor and tool after a rivet removing operation, consisting of a sleeve-like jacket mounted on said other end of the arbor to slide longitudinally to a limited extent and provided at its outer end with a cross wall adapted in connection with a rivet removing operation to abut against the head of the rivet and having in the central portion thereof an aperture through which the tool extends slidably, and a spring mounted on the arbor and arranged to urge the jacket outwards relatively to said arbor.

5. A device adapted in conjunction with a rivet gun to remove a head-equipped rivet from a plurality of abutting plates with registering circular holes therethrough for the shank of the rivet, and comprising an elongated arbor provided on the central portion thereof with an abutment forming element and having one of its ends shaped to t within the nozzle of the rivet gun and extend into the path of the gun hammer and embodying means for yieldingly holding it in connected relation with the gun nozzle, a cylindrical cutting tool of less diameter than the holes in the plates, connected to the other end of the arbor, extending lengthwise of said arbor, having in its outer end face a concentric annular groove defining outwards thereof an annular cutting edge for placement against the central portion of the head of the rivet, and adapted when said cutting edge is placed in centered relation with the head of the rivet and the arbor is subjected to hammer blows by the gun to sever the outer portion of the rivet head from the shank and eject the shank from the holes in the plate, and means for retraoting the arbor and tool after a rivet removing operation, consisting of a sleevelike jacket mounted on said other end of the arbor to slide longitudinally to a limited extent and provided at the outer end thereof with a cross wall adapted in connection with a rivet removing operation to abut against the head of the rivet and having in the central portion thereof an aperture through which the tool extends slidably, and a, helical compression spring extending-around the central portion of the arbor, having one end thereof in abutment with the aforementioned element and its other end in abutment with the inner end of the jacket, andarranged to urge the jacket outwards relatively to said arbor.

6. A device adapted in conjunction with a rivet gun to remove a head-equipped rivet from a plurality of abutting plates with registering circular holes therethrough for the shank of the rivet, and comprising an elongated arbor having one end thereof shaped to fit Within the nozzle of the rivet gun and extend into the path of the gun hammer and provided with means for yieldingly holding it in connected relation with the gun nozzle, a cylindrical cutting tool of less diameter than the holes in the plates, connected to the other end' of the arbor, extending lengthwise of said arbor, having in its outer end face a concentric annular groove dening outwards thereof an annular cutting edge for placement against the central portion of the head of the rivet, and adapted when said cutting edge is placed in centered relation with the head of the rivet and the arbor is subjected to hammer blows by the gun to sever the outer portion of the rivet head from the rivet shank and eject the shank from the holes in the plate, and means for retraoting the arbor and tool after a rivet removing operation, consisting of a sleeve-like jacket mounted on said other end of the arbor to slide longitudinally to a limited extent and provided at its outer end with a cross wall adapted in connection with a rivet removing operation to abut against the head of the rivet and having in the central portion thereof an aperture through which the tool extending slidably, and a spring mounted on the arbor and arranged to urge the jacket outwards relatively to said arbor, said jacket being provided in its cross wall with a V- shaped notch leading to the aperture and having a cutout communicating with, and leading rearwards from, the notch in order to permit the user of the device readily to view the tool.

HARRY D. ROCHEVILLE. 

